Moors visited
West Yorkshire to take on FC Halifax Town in a game where three points for
Solihull might well have seen them out of the relegation zone for the first
time this season whilst a win for Halifax would virtually secure their place in
the National league next season. The Shay Stadium is a magnificent venue and
with the weather milder than of late, there was considerable anticipation from
the 1849 crowd. Moors were without Jamie Osborne and Kyle Storer which gave a
start to Paul Green and George Carline. On loan signing Omari Stirling – James
was also in the starting line up

Moors were
straight at their opponents with Darren Carter putting Jamie Reckord away with
just 3 minutes played but his low effort from 20 yards was well saved by
Johnson.

The Solihull
players were aware that Matty Kosylo has proved a match winner several times
this season for Halifax and as the home team settled it was the mid fielder who
picked up a dink to the left flank and his defence splitting pass across the
face of the goal fortunately found no other blue shirts available.

On ten minutes
a poor back pass to Johnson saw a hurried clearance headed back by Adi Yussuf
but it was too high to be dangerous. Max O’Leary saved well from Kosylo’s long
range free kick whilst Omari Sterling-James got on the end of a Solihull corner
but curled it over.

Moors first
real chance came on 20 minutes when Stirling-James put over a peach of a corner
for Carline to head down in the six-yard box – through a melee of legs it seemed
harder to miss than score but eventually referee Edwards saw an infringement and
the hosts were able to clear.

Tomlinson found
himself in a one on one situation with O’Leary but the Moorsman saved
brilliantly. Halifax then had another golden opportunity on the half hour mark
when Fondop-Talom got the better of Fiacre Kelleher but with just the Solihull
keeper in front of him, blasted the ball high over the cross bar from six yards
out.

Fondop-Talom
again had O’Leary in front, picking up an exquisite through ball from Kosylo but
ended up with a yellow card for simulating a foul in the box.

Moors ended the
half on a high note with Paul Green lashing Stirling-James’ pass from 25 yards fractionally
wide of the near post with Johnson well beaten

0 – 0 was a
fair reflection of the opening 45 minutes.

Solihull
started the second half very much on the front foot. Kwame Thomas was clattered
as he ran towards the box and Reckord’s subsequent free kick was close. Thomas
was again in the thick of things as he seized on Carline’s pass but Johnson
saved with his feet. Sterling-James combined well with Adi Yussuf as they
opened up the left flank and it was Yussuf again so close capitalising on
Carter’s header into the box.

Jermaine Hylton
replaced Yussuf on the hour mark and his direct running at the Shaymen’s
defence immediately gave Moors a boost. Halifax had to wait until the 71st
minute for a sniff at goal but were unlucky when Brown’s header rebounded off
the far post before being cleared to safety.

Alex Reid took
over from Thomas on 76 minutes as Manager Yates sought to re energise the
attack and almost immediately Solihull’s best effort of the game saw a
marvellous reaction save from Johnson as he somehow pushed Kelleher’s bullet
header away from point blank range after a long Carline throw. Sterling-James
eighteen yarder was blocked before Reckord put Hylton away but again the
Halifax defence stood firm.

With a draw
looking most likely as time ebbed away, Moors were caught on the break with
four minutes remaining. Yet again Kosylo put Fondop-Talom through for a one on
one and it looked impossible for the Moors keeper to keep the ball out – O’Leary
bravely flung himself in front of the ball struck with power from point blank
range- it seemed to catch him full in
the face but he had done enough to keep his team in the match – one of the best
saves of the season without a doubt!

Four added
minutes saw Tyrone Williams cross the ball from the right wing as Carline met it
perfectly but for a miraculous tip over by Johnson (the Halifax keeper being awarded
the home side man of the match)

Both teams had
chances to win this battle but the two goal keepers had different ideas – both
had amazing games. It ended 0 – 0.

With Barrow
salvaging a point at home to Dover Moors still occupy the final relegation
position but on goal difference only. Woking and Maidstone suffered defeats,
whilst Hartlepools’s game was postponed. There is everything to play for!